GIPS Sintesi della relazione

The development of bioscience research in the 21st century requires the bringing together of classical experimental approaches with computational and mathematical techniques to interpret large-scale quantitative data sets. This approach has been termed "integrative biology". The aim of this proposal was to transfer the knowledge required to establish integrative plant science in Sheffield. To achieve this aim, a number of research fellows were recruited to the host institute, each of them expert in a particular field of research. These researchers acted to both transfer their knowledge to a series of PhD and postdoctoral researchers within the host institute and, by working together on a single project, provided an exemplar of how researchers from distinct disciplines can work together in an integrative fashion.

As a result of this project, a cadre of young scientists were trained in integrative plant biology. In addition, the fellows created a number of research tools and developed their own skills, providing them with a platform for future employment. They also contributed to a series of scientific events by which their skills could be show-cased. The scientific focus of the project was understanding the control of leaf size and shape. Novel computational approaches to measuring and modelling leaf form have been developed, and a series of experiments performed in which parameters propose to play a role in the control of leaf shape have been manipulated, using a combination of molecular and microscopy techniques.

As a result, a number of scientific papers have been published or are in preparation. Overall, the project ran well with the new scientific approaches becoming embedded in the host institute, and the TOK Fellows going on to scientific careers.